British Values

Picture News and British Values

Picture News provides a different focus each week, in the form of a powerful image and 'Big Question'. We use 'Picture News' weekly in school, as a stimulus for weekly assemblies and discussion about current affairs, with direct links to British Values, the Protected Characteristics and our Christian values, where children are encouraged to consider, discuss and express their own ideas around these issues..  The assemblies provide opportunities for children to learn from our world and develop respect and tolerance for other’s beliefs, feelings and faiths. They encourage exploration, discussion, challenge and inspire children to learn!

What are the British Values?

Development of the British values help to ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background. We teach the basic British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs. This ensures young people understand the importance of respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

Democracy

Links to school values:

• Service
• Trust
• Compassion
• Truth
• Responsibility

UN CRC Article 12:  Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account.

• We value the contribution all of our children make to school life and seek to provide them with a variety of opportunities to influence decision making which allows their voices to be heard: school council, eco team, chaplaincy team, sports council, arts council and pupil voice surveys.
• Members of our school council, eco team, chaplaincy team, sports council, arts council go through a democratic process whereby they apply for the position and learn about democracy through taking part in an electoral process.
• We encourage pupils to volunteer in and out of school.  This includes raising money for local, national and international charities.
• Democracy is also promoted through additional PSHE lessons, Collective Worship and Picture News.
• Children are taught about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and learn to respect their rights and the rights of others.
• We encourage our parents to participate in decision making within our school through, for example, parent surveys, parent feedback questionnaires and workshops.
• Our staff are excellent role models who develop strong, respectful relationships with one another, the children and parents. We encourage an open door policy to discuss any concerns and work together to resolve them.
• We aim to ensure that all children understand that they have the right to be heard.

Rule of Law

Links to school values:

• Justice
• Courage
• Truth
• Trust
• Service

UN CRC Article 19:  Governments should ensure that children are properly cared for, and protect them from violence, abuse and neglect by their parents, or anyone else who looks after them.

• Our core Christian values are at the heart of what we teach.
• We have high expectations about pupil conduct and this is reflected in our Behaviour Policy.  There are rewards for exhibiting good and caring behaviour and consistent demonstration of our Christian values is recognised through such things as ‘Citizen of the Week’, ‘Play Leader Award’ and 'CB Values Award'
• Through Collective Worship and Picture News, circle time and PSHE lessons, children are taught how to earn trust and respect and are supported to develop a strong sense of morality; knowing right from wrong and doing the right thing even when it’s difficult.
• Rules and boundaries are a part of life. We discuss why they are important and what would happen if we didn’t have them. Laws provide us with protection, they help us to take responsibility for our actions and realise that there are consequences.
• Children are taught to play by the rules in sport, with an emphasis on fair play
• Children are taught about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and learn to respect their rights and the rights of others.
• At the beginning of the school year, children take part in creating class rules, as well as recapping rules around school.
• The School Council represent the rest of the school in revising the School Code annually

Individual Liberty

Links to school values:

• Courage
• Humility
• Responsibility
• Friendship

UN CRC Article 31:  All children have a right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of activities.

UN CRC Article 15:  Children have the right to meet together and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.

• Children are taught about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and learn to respect their rights and the rights of others.
• Our children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own actions but to also expect to be treated with respect from others.
• We do not tolerate bullying of any kind and this is dealt with quickly.
• Through our school Christian values and our PSHE program, children are taught about personal responsibility, choices, ambition and aspirations.  They are encouraged to take opportunities to follow and develop their interests in, for example, art, music and sport, and are provided through our curriculum and wider opportunities such as ‘Arts Week’, ‘Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds Week’, music lessons provided by Tameside Music services, visitors to school and off-site school trips.
• Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, including on-line.  This is done through computing lessons, assemblies and outside organisations such as the Safe Squad, as well as through the PSHE curriculum.
• We provide a safe and supportive environment where our children are encouraged to be independent in their learning.
• We provide guidance on how to make safe choices through, for example, E-safety week, whole school collective worships, road safety, cycling proficiency, swimming tuition, PSHE lesson and Religious Education
• Individual liberty is also explored through current affairs in weekly Picture News assemblies
• Children are encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment

Mutual Respect

Links to school values:

• Responsibility
• Friendship

UN CRC Article 2:  The Convention applies to everyone whatever their race, religion, abilities, whatever they think or say and whatever type of family they come from.

UN CRC Article 30:  Children have a right to learn and use the language and customs of their families, whether these are shared by the majority of people in the country or not.

• We have high expectations about pupil conduct and this is reflected in our Behaviour Policy
• All our children are encouraged to demonstrate respect for everyone they meet and to respect the environment in which we live.
• Children are taught about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and learn to respect their rights and the rights of others.
• Through our school’s Christian values, PSHE lessons and circle time children are taught to respect each other, to be cooperative and collaborative, be supportive and to look for similarities while being understanding of differences.
• Mutual respect is also promoted through PSHE lessons and assemblies. 
• Children are expected to take responsibility for how they treat each other and how they make one another feel by their actions.
• If children see others being disrespectful we encourage them to stand up for what is right, speak out and help others
• Through Collective Worship and Picture News children discuss and explore what mutual respect means in varied contexts

Tolerance and Respect for Different Faiths and Beliefs

Links to school values:

• Responsibility
• Friendship
• Wisdom

UN CRC Article 14:  Children have the right to think and believe what they want, and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights. Parents should guide their children on these matters.

• We have high expectations about pupil conduct and actively celebrate diversity and equality, actively challenging prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour of any kind. This is reflected in our Behaviour Policy and Equality Policy.
• Children are reminded of their place in a culturally diverse society. This is achieved through our Religious Education Curriculum, PSHE curriculum and the spiritual life of our school.
• Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs is promoted through the Religious Education curriculum, allowing the children to compare and contrast cultures and beliefs and promotes tolerance and respect for others.  Children learn about different religions, their beliefs, places of worship and festivals. 
• Collective Worship also marks and celebrates significant religious festivals such as Diwali.
• Worships promote the diversity of society and the rights of each person to be respected and valued equally regardless of ability, gender, faith, heritage or race.
• Visits are made by local religious leaders and children have the opportunity to visit places of worship.
• Children are taught about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and learn to respect their rights and the rights of others.
• Religious representatives of other faiths from inside and outside of school are invited to lead Collective Worship 
• Picture News is used to explore and discuss tolerance and respect for different faiths and beliefs through the context of current affairs